[Note: Ephraim Fuller 1726-1772, died intestate (without a Will) and below are his Probate Court Records (transcribed) which reveal much about this family starting with the death of Ephraim Fuller, who, like his father was a weaver.

The bold headers with dates prior to each document were inserted by me……… W L Fuller]

23 March 1773 —Bond/Appointment of Administrator

KNOW all Men by these Presents, That we Easter Fuller Widow & Jonas Stone Gentleman both of Newton in the County of Middlesex and John Hoar of Lincoln in the same County Husbandman, all

within His Majesty’s Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England, are holden and stand firmly bound and obliged unto Samuel Danforth Esq[uire] Judge of the Probate of Wills, and granting Administrations within the County of Middlesex in the full and just Sum of two hundred Pounds, in Lawful Money of said Province, to be paid unto the said Samuel Danforth his Successors in the said Office or Assigns:

To the true Payment whereof, we do bind ourselves, and each of us, our, and each of our Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, jointly and severally, for the whole and in the whole, firmly by these Presents.

Sealed with our Seals. Dated the twenty third Day of March Anno Domini, One Thousand Seven Hundred and seventy three Annoque Regni Regis decimo tertio [Translation: and in the thirteenth year of the reign of the king]

THE Condition of this Present Obligation is such, That if the above-bounden Esther Fuller this day admitted administratrix of the Estate of Ephraim Fuller late of s[ai]d Newton Weaver deceased Intestate do make or cause to be made a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods, Chattels, Rights and Credits of the said Deceased, which have or shall come to the Hands, Possession or Knowledge of her the said Esther or into the Hands and Possession of any other Person or Persons for her and the same so made, do exhibit or cause to be exhibited into the Registry of the Court of Probate for the said County of Middlesex at or before the twenty third Day of June next ensuing; and the same Goods, Chattels, Rights and Credits, and all other the Goods, Chattels, Rights and Credits of the said Deceased, at the time of his Death, which at any time after shall come to the Hands and Possession of the said Esther or into the Hands and Possession of any other Person or Persons for her do well and truly Administer according to

Law: And further do make or cause to be made a just and true Accompt of her said Administration upon Oath, at or before the twenty third Day of March which will be in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and seventy four

And all the Rest and Residue of the said Goods, Chattels, Rights and Credits, which shall be found remaining upon the said Administratrix’s Accompt, (the same being first examined and allowed of by the Judge or Judges for the time being of Probate of Wills and granting Administrations within the County of Middlesex aforesaid) and shall deliver and pay unto such Person or Persons respectively, as the said Judge or Judges by his or their Decree or Sentence pursuant to Law shall limit and appoint:

And if is shall hereafter appear that any last Will and Testament was made by the said Deceased, and the Executor or Executors therein named do exhibit the same into the Court of Probate for the said County of Middlesex making Request to have it allowed and approved accordingly: if the said Esther above bounden being thereunto required, do render and deliver the said Letter of Administration (Approbation of such Testament being first had and made) into the said Court: Then the before written Obligation to be Void and of none Effect, or else to abide and remain in full Force and Virtue.

YOU are hereby appointed and impowered to take an Inventory of, and (according to your best Skill and Judgment) truly and justly to apprize (in Lawful Money of this Province) all the Estate whereof M[iste]r Ephraim Fuller late of said Town died seized, in the aforesaid County; and you are to make Return of this

Warrant, with your Doings thereon, unto the Probate Office, in the same County, as soon as conveniently may be

Given under my Hand this twenty third Day of March A.D 1773

all sworn S: Danforth J. prob[ate]

[manuscript annotation applied to the dorse of above printed document]

Aprill 6 1773 I hereby represent the Estate of my late Husband

M[iste]r Eph[rai]m Fuller late of Newton Dec[eas]ed, to be involvent

her

Esther ^ Fuller

mark

6 April 1773 – Inventory – Presented to the Court

To the Honorabel Samuel Danforth Esq[uie]r in observance of a warent we the Subscribers have received from your honor, we have apprized the Estate of M[iste]r Ephraim Fuller Late of Newton Des[eased] as followeth Vi[delicet]:

To Abraham Fuller Esq[uie]r & D[octo]rJonas Stone both of Newton in said County Greeting.

Whereas the Estate of M[iste]r Ephraim Fuller late of said Town Weaver Dece[ase]d hath been represented to Me as insolvent: You are therefore hereby appointed & authorized to be Commissioners for receiving & examining the Claims of the Several Creditors to said Estate & how they are made out: and six months Time is hereby allow[e]d them to bring in their Claims & prove their Debts: and you are to give previous Notice to the said Creditors of the Times & Place of your Sitting, in Time & manner as the Law in such case doth direct. At the Expiration of said six months you are to make Report to me of your Proceedings, to the End that said Estate may be distributed among the Creditors agreable to Law.

Given under my Hand & Seal of Office the Day & Year above written.

S: Danforth J. Prob[ate]

14 Dec 1773– Administratrix Presents the Court with the Account (of the money)

An Acco[un]t of Esther Fuller Widow & administratrix of the Estste of Ephraim Fuller late of Newton in the County of Middlesex Dece[ase]d Intestate.

The said accountant charges her Self with the Personal Estate of the said Dece[ase]d specified in the Inventory having exhibited into the Probate Office for the said County, on the sixth Day of April A.D. 1773 amounting to £56. 02. 08

Inventory of Personal Estate

56.02.08

Gain on sale of sundries

1.00.02

Cash received

0.06.04

[subtotal]

(57.09.02)

Cash paid out

To the Widow for provisions & other needs & care of young child

25.00.00

Other

9.02.05 ½

[subtotal]

(34.02.05½)

Balance

23.06.08 ½

I allow the Widow of the within named Dece[ase]d for Provisions to care for the youngest Child & necessaries for upholding of Life 25.0.0 [signed] S. Danforth J. prob.

Middlesex December 14, 1773

I Allow of this Acco[un]t [signed] S. Danforth J. prob.

14 Dec 1773– Commission Submits to the Court List of Creditors to the Estate

Middlesex ss:

To the Hon[orabl]e Samuel Danforth Esq[uie]r Judge of the Probate &c for the County of Middlesex Pursuant to a Commission from your s[ai]d Honor bearing Date the 27th Day of March 1773 directing us the Subscribers to receive & examine the Claims of the Several Creditors to the Estate of M[iste]r Ephraim Fuller late of Newton Weaver Deceased represent Insolvent.

We have notified said Creditors according to Law, and have attended that service, we find there is due from the Estate of the said Deceased to the persons herein named the Several Sums respectively Affixed to their names Vi[delice]t

D[octo]r John King

£6.14.06

Wido[w] Elizabeth Dewing

5.04.04

Elisha Hide

6.13.04

Jonathan Jones

0.12.02

[p2] Jeremiah Richardson

0.06.08

Nehemiah Fuller

12.07.09

Charles Pelham Esq[uie]r

0.19.10

[Total]

£32.18.04

Newton Dec[embe]r 14th 1773

Abr[aham] Fuller ) Commissio[ne]rs
Jonas Stone ) both Sworn

22 June 1774 – Court Order to Pay Creditors of the Estate

Middlesex June 22 1774

Whereas it appears by the Registry of Probate for the County aforesaid that the Estate of Ephraim Fuller late of Newton in said County Dece[ase]d Intestate is indebted to divers Persons to the amount of £32 – 18 – 4 For Payment whereof there remains (upon Ballance of the Account of the administ[rato]res thereof) no more than £23 – 6 – 8 1/2:

I do therefore hereby order that the said administ[rato]res do pay & distribute the said Ballance to & among the Creditors to said Estate as follows Vi[delicet]